Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) selected Geoff Coleman of Brown Deer as one of 62 athletes to represent Team Wisconsin at the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games in Princeton, New Jersey on June 14-21, 2014. Wisconsin athletes will compete in athletics, aquatics, bocce, bowling, flag football, gymnastics, powerlifting and volleyball.
Coleman has competed in Special Olympics basketball, bowling, volleyball, softball, and snowshoeing for the past 30 years. He has also played for the Special Olympics Unified “Bad Pack” Volleyball team which is comprised of individuals with and without intellectual disabilities.
“I feel proud to be able to play sports with my friends,” he said. “I try to keep in shape by participating in different sports all year-round.”
Coleman has attended the 1995 Special Olympics World Games in Connecticut for tennis, the 1999 World Games in North Carolina for volleyball, the 2003 World Games in Ireland for soccer and the 2001 World Games in Alaska for snowshoeing. This will be his first time attending the Special Olympics USA Games. In 1995, SOWI recognized Coleman with the Male Athlete of the Year award.
Coleman will compete in volleyball and will be one of 86 delegates representing Team Wisconsin at the 2014 USA Games in New Jersey.
SOWI will host an official training camp for Team Wisconsin athletes on May 17-18, 2014 at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. The 2014 USA Games will showcase the abilities of athletes with intellectual disabilities, promote the ideals of acceptance and inclusion through sport, and celebrate the transformative power of Special Olympics. A total of 3,500 athletes, 1,000 coaches and delegates, 10,000 volunteers and 70,000 spectators will attend.
Sports competition will be held at venues throughout Mercer County, New Jersey, including Princeton University, Rider University, The College of New Jersey, Mercer County Park and several area private schools. There will be ample opportunities for supporters across the state to show their spirit and join the team through volunteerism, donations and attendance. For more information or to learn more about how you can support a local athlete, visit www.SpecialOlympicsWisconsin.org/USAGames.
